Have Dragon, Will Travel

By A. R. Rand

Prince Ogilby tightens his grip on Razzmatazz. To stop him, Pamela’s aunts - Miss Fitchett, Miss Appley, Miss Maffit and Miss Pennyfeather - must find their Cherish wands. Flying on Dennis, an adorable dragon, Oliver and Charlie enter a bizarre movie world and fight giant golems conjured by Ogilby. Mr. Botts, the vampire guidance counselor, opposes Ogilby for his own evil ends and threatens Oliver’s life. Pamela bounces from human to cat distressing her greatly. She runs away to find her cat father in seedy Cattown. Oliver and the aunts break into the zombie bank and get some unexpected help from the king of rock n’ roll. When Ogilby abducts Pamela, Oliver and his Click friends search for her in a dangerous jungle amusement park. No place is safe for Pamela, so Oliver, Pamela and her cat father journey to the secretive and secluded world of Bast, the Egyptian cat goddess, seeking refuge. Ogilby continues his relentless quest to possess Pamela and rule Razz. In a world of wonder one thing is certain - magic ain’t for wimps!

• Language: English
• Publisher: A. A. Randazzo
• Release date: Jul 23, 2021
• ISBN: 9780463204412

Book preview

Table of Contents

BOOK THREE – HAVE DRAGON, WILL TRAVEL

Chapter 1 - Search for Tomorrow

Chapter 2 - Decoy

Chapter 3 - Pinkie Lee

Chapter 4 - The Edge of Night

Chapter 5 - Conflict

Chapter 6 - Love of Life

Chapter 7 - Beat the Clock

Chapter 8 - The Guiding Light

Chapter 9 - Sky King

Chapter 10 - On the Go

Chapter 11 - Meowberry, R. F. D.

Chapter 12 - Place the Face

Chapter 13 - The Lone Wolf?

Chapter 14 - Danger

Chapter 15 - Take a Giant Step

Chapter 16 - Meet the Predators

Chapter 17 - Break the Bank

Chapter 18 - Toast of the Town

Chapter 19 - Your Hit Parade

Chapter 20 - Andy’s Gang

Chapter 21 - Panic

Chapter 22 - Jungle Jim

Chapter 23 - Rough Riders

Chapter 24 - The Ford Show

Chapter 25 - Diagnosis Unknown

Chapter 26 - You Bet Your Life

Chapter 27 - Father Knows Best

Chapter 28 - Crossroads

Chapter One

* * Search for Tomorrow * *

One red eye pulsated scanning the vast forest. The robot was not alone; several of Prince Ogilby’s Roboraiders with the same Cyclops domed disc were walking stiff legged through the trees searching for the escapees.

The foul odor of rotten eggs hung lightly in Sulfur Springs, not from eggs gone wrong, but from the pale-yellow sulfur mixed with soil and rocks.

For all its stinky odor, Sulfur Springs was a refuge for Oliver, Pamela, the Robinson sisters, and Charlie. Dennis and Molly were with them, all hidden in a cave behind a waterfall high on a cliff. Molly was a white pony not a unicorn as she looked with a horn on her forehead. The horn was really Ogilby’s Cherish wand. Ogilby was on the hunt for the wand along with some other things, not the least of which was a certain cat. Charlie had hidden the wand in plain sight. How clever Oliver had thought begrudgingly when Charlie revealed the hiding place. Then again, that was Charlie…clever. Maybe a little too clever, thought Oliver with equal annoyance.

Dennis was a large emerald dragon with soulful eyes and luminous rosy wings. He was as gentle as a wisp-o-will. However, he was also a fire-breathing dragon, as Oliver had to remind himself repeatedly. The sisters had advised caution whenever Dennis sneezed and inadvertently shot flames.

Inside the cave, Oliver and Pamela were standing apart from the four sisters and Charlie. The sisters were huddled around the campfire talking in hushed whispers. They were clothed in the long dresses they usually wore and in the colors of each of their respective Clicks. The sisters hadn’t had time to grab warm coats before running from the house under Ogilby’s flying saucer attack.

Miss Fitchett, the oldest of the sisters, looked stern as she poked the air to make a point. Oliver didn’t know what point she was trying to make and didn’t care. He was bone-weary. To be honest, they were all bone-weary. Miss Fitchett, usually tall and erect, sat slouched and strands of hair escaped from her usually neat bun. He could hear snatches of Miss Fitchett’s voice, raspy and hoarse. She was talking about finding the sisters’ Cherish wands. Yes, that’s what they had to do if they hoped to defeat the evil prince. That is if they could escape from the woods first and then find the lost wands. Miss Appley was trying to follow her sister’s speech, but her eyes fluttered for sleep. The petite woman was the next sister in line and normally sharp-minded. The third sister, Miss Maffit, huddled with her arms crossed over her knees. Her head rested on an arm and her gentle brown eyes stared vacantly into space. Right now, she looked like a wilted delicate flower. The usually bouncy Miss Pennyfeather was a deflated mess. Her curly white hair was a jumble of frizz, and her head seemed to be collapsing into the folds of her plump body.

The cave gave the escapees a false sense of protection. Of course, they all knew better. They were not safe since Prince Ogilby had made an unwelcome visit to Silver Cricket. His flying saucer had destroyed the shield Mr. Robinson had magicked around the village to protect Pamela from the dark prince. Ogilby had walked down the runway of the saucer, tall, regal, and cool. The physical handsomeness of the blue-eyed, dark-haired man was at odds with the ugliness that was within his soul. He had taken over the village and enslaved the occupants under his cruel and restrictive laws. His Roboraiders, those silver-skinned metallic monsters, were searching Sulfur Springs looking for Pamela. The robots had already captured Mr. Robinson, encasing him in a gelatin block. Oliver and Charlie had been helpless as they watched two robots carry off the old man trapped inside like a bug in amber. Now, the merciless robots could find their hiding place at any moment.

In addition, Oliver was still reeling over the revelations that had rocked his world within. He wished he could take things in stride like Charlie, stretched by the campfire with his legs long. He appeared unruffled by their current dilemma and by the personal calamities that had befallen him. His own father’s ambition had severely affected him. His father was Prince Ogilby. He had bewitched Charlie and stunted his growth. Charlie was a grown man trapped in the body of a seven-year-old. Prince Ogilby had cast a dark shadow over all of them.

I’m worried, said Pamela, who was scratching a spot between the dragon’s ears and giving voice to Oliver’s troubled thoughts. She shivered in the coolness of the cave wearing a lightweight pink top and denims. Huddled, as she was, she appeared so fragile to Oliver not the defiant girl with blazing green eyes and a crown of frizzy red hair he knew so well. How are we going to get out of the woods without being seen? she added.

Magic, he said drily.

Oliver was leaning against Dennis. The dragon shifted his big- blues to him with a pleading look and thumped his long tail. No more, said Oliver to the dragon.

Dennis was hunting for more lemon drops. Oliver had just fed Dennis a handful of the dragon’s favorite treat. The dragon would have eaten the entire bagful and ended up with a bellyache if Oliver hadn’t stopped feeding him.

Magic got us into this mess in the first place, grumbled Pamela.

Oliver nodded. Yes, magic was more complicated than he had imagined. It wasn’t only learning spells; it was undoing spells and living with the consequences of casting spells. Even the most skilled wizards had messed up spells. Ogilby’s spell mishap was a prime example. His backfired Immorti spell had changed Pamela from her natural state as a cat into a human being. The misfire had rendered Ogilby invisible and virtually powerless until that fateful Halloween night on Pamela’s eleventh birthday when Ogilby had regained his powers. With a second attempt at the spell, he became solid matter again and Pamela reverted to cat form. Yet the spell hadn’t worked properly for he failed to attain the immortality he so desperately desired.

Pamela looked human now due to an illusion spell performed by Mr. Robinson. She wanted more than an illusion; she wanted to be a human being again. Oliver sympathized with her. He was having his own identity crisis. His persona as Oliver Westcott, a happy-go-lucky kid from Brooklyn, had changed forever when he found out that he was Andrew Robinson, born in the magical world of Razzmatazz. Yet, he couldn’t accept his newly discovered identity; it was unfamiliar and strange.

Everything had changed on that Halloween night with a trunk trip that had brought Oliver and Pamela from their world that the sisters called the Humbug world through a portal to Razz, a world both enchanting and terrifying. The carefree life the two friends had enjoyed ended with the revelation of secrets kept hidden by the sisters. The old ladies had been Oliver’s music teachers in the old Victorian house where they gave lessons. Now he knew that they were not only witches but also his great-aunts. Charlie, who Oliver thought was just a kid in his neighborhood, was a wizard and his relative, as was the wizen Mr. Robinson. As part of a royal lineage, Oliver was even related to Prince Ogilby and caught-up in a power struggle that had started generations ago.

I want to go home, said Pamela. I want things the way they used to be, she added, her eyes filling with tears.

Oliver didn’t even bother to nod. Pamela knew he felt the same way. Pamela hadn’t known until that Halloween night that she was not human. She loved the old ladies that she thought of as her aunts, and their love for her was without question. She had forgiven them about the secrets they had kept from her. The sisters had told Pamela that her mother was a student at their music school. This was untrue. Her mother, Bath, was an Abyssinian cat. Ogilby had needed Bath as a familiar to help him conjure the immortal spell. Now Ogilby was after Pamela and the ancient magic passed from mother to daughter for his next try at the spell. He would never stop his pursuit until he found her.

Remember our music lessons, said Pamela with a sweet smile, and the students coming over and hanging out in the parlor?

Yeah, I was practically a piece of furniture, he said. "I loved it there. I loved hearing different musical sounds in the hallways, even Sheila murdering the Flight of the Bumblebee."

My aunt’s pumpkin pies, she said, smiling wider.

The old ladies loved to bake and the students at their music school feasted on hot-from-the-oven cookies, pies, and muffins each time they came for lessons.

And Charlie popping up when you least expected it, he added, glancing at Charlie.

Charlie looked as cool as usual, but Oliver thought outward appearances were deceiving. Oliver couldn’t imagine what it would be like stuck for one’s entire life in a child’s body. It was wonderful to be a child, yes, but growing up was an adventure Oliver wouldn’t want to miss. He could only imagine the heartbreak Charlie felt when he looked at grown men, strong, powerful, and attractive to women, and know he would never experience manhood.

He’s still doing that, said Oliver about the elusive boy. Charlie would always be a mystery to Oliver. He just hoped he could trust Charlie, for that was still a question in his mind. In thought, Oliver ran his fingers through his shaggy shoulder-length hair; his fingers caught in the snarls.

He had doubts about Charlie’s loyalty. There was an incident in the past when Oliver and Charlie were drag racing on dragons. It appeared Charlie had deliberately slammed into Oliver’s dragon, causing Oliver to take a nasty tumble. Now Oliver’s oil-soiled black denim jacket and jeans were evidence of a more recent event. As Oliver and Charlie were searching for Pamela and the sisters in Sulfur Springs, Charlie had directed Oliver down a path leading to a Slickers’ trap. The oily hands of the Slickers had risen from the ground, grabbing Oliver. As the hands pulled Oliver toward a boiling oily crevice, he shouted for Charlie’s help. Charlie had hesitated before zapping the Slickers with his wand. Charlie told Oliver he hesitated because he couldn’t see him in the ooze and couldn’t chance hitting him. Charlie’s account could be accurate. He hesitated for a few seconds, at best. However, Oliver couldn’t help thinking that if his teacher, the burly beaver Professor Bowvetski, hadn’t pulled him out he might not be alive now.

Pamela wiped away the tears with the back of her hand. Don’t cry, Pammy, he said. Your aunts will think of something.

What if we went back to the house? she said. We could go through the trunk into the Humbug world. We’d be safe there.

Oliver shook his head. Pamela’s desire to go home was as strong as his was, but it wouldn’t work. Ogilby would follow us, he said kindly. "Going back to the Humbug house is a dead-end. Don’t forget about the Forgettable spell he put on the doors and windows. If we tried to get out, we’d forget why we were there in the first place. We’d be an easy target for Ogilby then."

Oliver imagined himself and Pamela as sitting ducks in a shooting gallery with Ogilby pulling the trigger of a shotgun.

Yes, I suppose you’re right, she said sadly, realizing they couldn’t return home.

Oliver thought back to the dark closet beneath the foyer stairs of the house that held his grandparents, Miss Fairfax, and Reverend Barnaby, all frozen like statues under Ogilby’s spell.

It seemed unlikely to Oliver that he would ever see his grandparents alive again. He reminded himself that Harold and Maud Westcott were not really his grandparents at all. The truth was that Harold had agreed to adopt Oliver when Miss Maffit, of whom Harold was quite fond, asked for his help.

Well, that settles it, said Miss Fitchett. We’re going to Lily Dale.

Lily Dale? said Pamela, turning toward her aunts. Where’s that?

It’s about sixty miles from here, said Miss Appley. It’s a village of spiritualists. We’re going to need psychic help to find our Cherish wands.

Oliver and Pamela exchanged skeptical looks. You’re going to ask ghosts where to find your wands? said Pamela slowly.

No, said Miss Appley.

Oliver and Pamela were relieved. Asking ghosts for help on such an important matter as the whereabouts of the wands seemed weird to them and a waste of time. Their relief didn’t last long.

We’re not going to ask, continued Miss Appley. A qualified psychic will ask.

Miss Fitchett stood up. It’s dark out now. Let’s get started. Miss Fitchett wobbled dizzily. Miss Appley jumped up to steady her.

I’m all right, said Miss Fitchett stoically, pushing her gently away. She glared at Oliver and Pamela still with doubtful looks over the proposed destination. Oliver and Pamela get over it. We’re going to Lily Dale.

Oliver looked away, a little miffed. If the old ladies wanted to contact ghosts - fine! He and Pamela just weren’t used to such things. It was unsettling to them to say the least. More importantly, how were they going to get out of the woods without detection by Ogilby’s forces?

We can’t just walk through the woods even if it is dark, said Oliver. Ogilby’s robots could be anywhere. I mean, Dennis is a big target. They’re sure to spot us.

Oliver glanced at Dennis sucking on another lemon drop that Oliver had just given him (well, who could resist those puppy-like eyes).

We’ve thought about that, said Miss Pennyfeather. We’re going to shrink Dennis and Molly and…

Dennis swallowed the lemon drop with a gulp and bellowed a loud objection.

Stop that racket, Dennis, snapped Miss Fitchett. We have to blend with the scenery, and you certainly don’t blend at your size.

Dennis had tender feelings and her chastisement upset him. His face drooped and he blinked back dragon-size tears. Oliver pulled another lemon drop from the bag and tossed it. Dennis could never resist a lemon drop and caught it with his long pink tongue. The candy treat worked like a charm and instantly cheered the dragon.

Oliver wasn’t as easily placated. He didn’t like the idea of shrinkage any better than Dennis did. He had experienced miniaturization with his friend Stanley’s Shrink-a-Lot potion. Oliver and Stanley had shrunk to bug size. It was a horrible ordeal to be so small. The grass was a jungle filled with gigantic creatures. A harmless garden snake became a giant menace, towering over them, and almost ate the bug-size Stanley.

Oliver didn’t understand how they were supposed to walk through Sulfur Springs at such a small size. It would take years to go the distance as small as a bug.

Miss Appley put his concerns to rest, announcing the second part of the sisters’ plan. The rest of us will turn into animals, she said.

This idea seemed as far-fetched as the first. You’re kidding? said Oliver incredulously.

This is hardly the time for frivolity, said Miss Fitchett to him. Charlie should be able to do the spells required.

I think it’s a wonderful idea, said Miss Maffit, getting to her feet. We can’t stay in this cave just waiting to be caught.

You got that right, Auntie M, said Charlie, standing up beside her. Let’s rock n’ roll.

Oh, let me shrink Dennis, said Miss Pennyfeather, her eyes aglow in the firelight. I’m a little rusty, but I’m sure I can do it. She turned to Charlie. May I borrow your wand?

Aunt Pennyfeather, said Charlie gently, you can’t use someone else’s Cherish wand.

Oh yes, of course, how silly of me, she said flustered. Oliver, may I borrow your school wand?

Oliver had forgotten that he had the wand with him. He looked at the other sisters for guidance on whether to comply or not. Miss Fitchett rolled her eyes and Miss Appley shrugged. Miss Maffit’s smile encouraged Oliver to do as asked. Indeed, no matter what age Miss Pennyfeather might be, she was their baby sister and therefore they were willing to indulge her whims.

It’s been a long time since I’ve used higher magic, said Miss Pennyfeather. I just want to see if I still have the old pizzazz.

Go for it, said Oliver, handing over the wand but with some trepidation. He had learned from Mrs. Scroggibottom, the principal at Dingbats School of Sword and Sorcery, that school wands were not reliable, especially for higher magic. Oliver hoped Miss Pennyfeather could pull it off.

Miss Pennyfeather stroked the wand in her hands lovingly. Even a battered, second-hand wand was better than no wand at all. She pointed the wand at Dennis. The dragon knew the sisters would never harm him, but he didn’t like being on the receiving end of a spell either. His ears stiffened and his eyes opened wide in horror. He certainly would never blow flames to harm Miss Pennyfeather, but camouflage seemed like a sensible alternative. Dennis snorted a plume of smoke to hide under just as Miss Pennyfeather mumbled some magic words. There was a flash and a pop where Dennis stood.

Oh Dennis, cried Miss Fitchett, waving away the smoke. Was that really necessary?

Everyone waved away the smoke. When the view cleared, a dragon was no longer in the cave. Miss Pennyfeather had mistakenly changed Dennis into a large green butterfly.

Miss Pennyfeather shrieked. Whoops!

Whoops? said Miss Fitchett crossly. Turn Dennis back into a dragon this instant!

I’m sure I don’t know what went wrong, said Miss Pennyfeather flustered. I’m sure I used the right spell. It must be this wand. She tapped the wand against her hand trying to find out if something was wrong with it. Each time she hit the wand against her hand a flash and a pop went off. Dennis changed from a green butterfly to a green giraffe to a green tomato to a green gorilla.

At first Oliver and Pamela were shocked and then they started laughing, it was rather funny even at poor Dennis’ expense.

Here, give me that, said Miss Fitchett angrily, grabbing the wand from Miss Pennyfeather. Miss Fitchett scowled at her younger sister who appeared to shrink in size (without a spell) under her withering glare.

Let me do it, said Charlie, stepping in. Charlie was not amused even if the transformation hadn’t physically harmed the dragon. He threw Oliver and Pamela the same withering glare as Miss Fitchett. Oliver and Pamela immediately stopped laughing, properly scolded for finding it funny. Charlie waved his Cherish wand and said some magic words.

There was a flash and pop. Dennis turned back into a dragon, but this time, he was the size of a Chihuahua.

Well, that’s better, said Miss Fitchett, scowling once again at Miss Pennyfeather.

Miss Pennyfeather lips trembled on the verge of tears and looked away.

Look, said Oliver. I’d just as soon take my chances normal size. I was shrunk once before, and I didn’t like it.

Miss Fitchett answered. Don’t you listen? The rest of us will turn into animals. That’s how we’ll blend with the forest.

Except for Pamela, said Miss Appley. It could interfere with Mr. Robinson’s spell.

You mean if I turned into a cat, I might stay that way? she asked.

It’s very likely, said Miss Appley. We don’t want to chance it.

But you can make me smaller, is that right? she said.

Yeah, said Charlie impatiently. Let’s do it.

He waved his wand. Pamela shrunk to dainty doll size. With another wave of his wand, he produced a mini-Molly. Miss Maffit carefully picked up Pamela and Molly, placing them on Dennis’ back. Oliver didn’t want to go mini, but he wasn’t crazy about turning into an animal either.

Who’s first? said Miss Pennyfeather, perhaps we should go in order of age. However, I volunteer to go first.

By way of apology, Miss Pennyfeather was offering herself first in case the animal changing spell went wrong.

It doesn’t matter, snapped Miss Fitchett. And nothing will go wrong with the spell with Charlie doing it, she added pointedly to her sister.

Miss Pennyfeather harrumphed and crossed her arms in defiance. Very well you go first, she said to Miss Fitchett.

Oliver suddenly realized this was going to happen. Charlie was going to turn him into an animal. What animal? It could very well be a green gorilla.

Wait a minute! Oliver shrieked. What’ll I turn into?

Whatever your default form is, said Miss Appley.

What does that mean? asked Oliver guardedly.

We all descended from animal life forms, said Miss Appley. We still have those traits within us. The spell will turn you into the dominant form.

He pictured a slimy creature wallowing in the primeval ooze. What if I was a reptile or a fish? said Oliver alarmed.

Let’s just hope you’re an animal or a bird, said Miss Appley.

Hope? thought Oliver.

Isn’t that a little vague when you could turn into something repulsive?

Chapter Two

* * Decoy * *

The sisters lined up for the transformation with Miss Fitchett first despite Miss Pennyfeather’s volunteer spirit. Charlie waved his wand and each sister transformed with a poof. Miss Fitchett turned into a ferret, Miss Appley turned into a hummingbird, Miss Maffit turned into a doe and Miss Pennyfeather turned into a beaver.

Charlie directed his wand at Oliver. Oliver knew how Dennis felt. It was as if Charlie was pointing a shotgun at him. Oliver searched Charlie’s eyes for any menacing signs. Charlie appeared friendly, yet Oliver was terribly nervous. Charlie could have an accident like Miss Pennyfeather and use a different spell to turn him into some hideous creature.

With a poof, Oliver turned into a rabbit.

Pamela started laughing hysterically. Look, it’s the Easter bunny, she cried.

Oliver could hear her tiny voice clearly. The long ears helped. He looked at his body. Yes, he was furry, but he wasn’t a fluff ball bunny. His body was slender, his fur shades of brown and his legs long.

Look at his cute pink nose, she howled.

Oliver maintained his pride, despite the nose. Anyone with eyes can see that I’m a jackrabbit, he said haughtily.

"Okay Jack, said Pamela. Hop to it."

Oliver looked over to Charlie with burrowed brows.

A rabbit! You turned me into a rabbit, he said angrily.

Hey dude, he said. It wasn’t me. That’s your default animal like Aunt Appley explained.

And what are you? he asked. He added only half joking. A snake?

Charlie laughed. You’ll see.

He waved his wand and pointed it at himself. In an instant, Charlie transformed into a black timber wolf with those icy blue eyes of his.

Oh, you get a wolf, Oliver said, still miffed. "And I get a rabbit, swell."

Vois, keep yoir voices ’own, said Miss Pennyfeather with a terrible lisp due to her buckteeth. Veed veeter go.

Oliver took a step on furry feet that he was unaccustomed to walking on and fell over on his whiskered face.

Oliver, said Miss Fitchett, looking rather elegant in slick brown fur, you have to hop.

Oliver sprang up with too much force. His legs were powerful, and he flew high into the air, yelling and flailing his arms. He fell to the ground, landing on his puffy white-tailed butt. Pamela was mirthfully laughing. Oliver hoped his fur hid the red blush of embarrassment on his face.

Go ahead, said Oliver to the sisters’ staring at him with equal amusement. I’ll get the hang of it.

The miniaturized Dennis unfurled his wings and lifted into the air. Pamela held onto Molly as she straddled the dragon’s back. The party started out of the cave, a strange menagerie…a jackrabbit, a wolf, a beaver, a ferret, and a big-eyed doe. Miss Appley, as a hummingbird, flew alongside Dennis.

The animals shimmied along the ledge behind the waterfall and climbed down the side of the cliff to the forest below. The night was cold without Mr. Robinson’s spell to control the temperature of the village and near-by vicinity, but the fur was a bonus for warmth. A burst of aromas filled Oliver’s senses…the earthy smells, the perfume of flowers and musky odors of other animals. There were too many animal scents for him to sort out what they were. He would have to learn what odor went with which animal.

The group clustered at the bottom of the cliff, sniffing the air for any intruders. Oliver didn’t think Ogilby’s metal monsters would have a scent, unless it was sizzling silicone. Through the trees, he saw a distant red orb glowing in the darkness.

I sure hope that’s a fat fairy, he whispered to the others.

Another glowing ball came into view across from the first orb.

They’re scanning for us, said Charlie. Hold still.

Oliver tried to hold still, but he was shaking. Dennis was hovering and couldn’t very well stop moving.

A blast of red light hit the cliff. Dirt and pebbles exploded into the air, showering them.

Go! cried Charlie.

Dennis flew away with the hummingbird zipping alongside him. Oliver hoped Pamela could hold on; it wasn’t easy riding on a dragon. The sisters scrambled. The fleet-footed ferret and doe ran quickly away. The beaver was slower, ambling over the forest floor.

In a rush of fright, Oliver bounced wildly along the ground and slammed into a tree. The impact threw him backwards. He hit the ground on his back; his rabbit’s feet twitching. Blasts exploded all around him. He leaped away just as a blast hit the spot where he had previously landed.

Oliver reasoned the robots were using motion sensors to track them. Did the robots know the identity of their targets or were they firing at anything that moved? There was no time for speculation. The second robot cut through the trees. The robot fired. The blast missed Oliver, but the shock wave threw him against another tree. He was pie-eyed from the blast and encounters with the trees. He hopped along, teetering like a drunken sailor. With double vision, he saw two massive tree trunks lying across the ground. He leaped high for cover behind the trees and landed. As his vision cleared, he noted that he was behind a singular tree. Cautiously he peered over the trunk. A metal man appeared, walking hurriedly through the trees. With a whirring sound, its head moved from side to side, scanning the area. Oliver held still. He only shifted his eyes looking for the other animals but couldn’t spot them in the darkness beyond.

The robot stopped, its red eye pulsing. Oliver waited, holding his breath. The head swiveled from his direction. The robot turned and stridently walked away. Oliver breathed out a comforted sigh. He waited a few moments unsure if the robot was truly gone. Keeping his eyes in the direction the robot had gone Oliver hopped backwards. On his third hop, he slammed into something hard he thought was another tree. He looked up viewing what was behind him. His eyes opened in horror. He had collided with the leg of another robot standing silently among the stellar trees. The robot’s back was to him as it scanned the forest. From Oliver’s point of view, the robot looked ninety feet tall. It hadn’t sensed Oliver, not yet anyway. Oliver was temporarily rooted to the spot not knowing if he should run or stand still until the robot moved away. He couldn’t wait. With steely determination, he leaped mightily and landed a distance away with a crunch of dried leaves under his feet. The robot’s head swiveled around. The red eye glared at Oliver. The eye started pulsating, building power. Oliver leaped again. The robot fired on the move after him. The shot blasted the ground sending up dirt. The robot that had walked away reappeared, cutting through the woods toward him. The two robots trapped Oliver between them, both red eyes pulsating. Oliver hesitated, unsure in which direction to leap.

On the run, a fearsome animal streaked out of the trees and grabbed Oliver by the back of the neck. The animal darted into the tangle of trees with Oliver helplessly caught in the predator’s powerful jaws. The robots fired. A blast hit a tree in front of them. With a thunderous crack, the tree split in half and fell across their path. The beast easily jumped over the huge tree as if it were merely a fallen branch and kept on running. Another blast shot over their heads. The beast dived for cover down a steep embankment. At the bottom of the ravine, Charlie spit Oliver out of his mouth. You taste terrible, he said, coughing. I got fur balls in my mouth.

Thanks, said Oliver tersely.

The hulking timber wolf spit out a tuff of fur. Oliver was grateful for the rescue but annoyed that Charlie had dropped him like roadkill into the scummy water at the bottom of the ditch. Moreover, Charlie should be more careful with those canines. Oliver’s neck hurt from puncture wounds. The firing from above stopped. Hidden in the thicket, Oliver and Charlie both perked their ears listening for the robots. They didn’t hear any whirring sounds, apparently the robots had moved away.

Oliver moved to a dry spot, giving his wet fur a vigorous shake, hoping some drops would land on Charlie in muddy revenge. Charlie backed off to keep from getting wet. Where are the others? Oliver asked.

I don’t know, said Charlie. Everyone scattered.

Some plan, said Oliver testily. We don’t even have a meeting spot to regroup.

They froze, twitching their ears at the sound of leaves rustling nearby. Hunkering down, the wolf and jackrabbit stealthily crawled up the embankment. A burly shape appeared, overlooking the ditch. The wolf leaped, snarling with bared teeth. The burly creature cried out and fell backwards as the wolf pinned it to the ground.

Wee-lee, Cholie, said Miss Pennyfeather, vou shood be mooore carfol.

I’m sorry, Aunt Pennyfeather, said Charlie, moving away. I thought you were…

Nover moid that noiw, she said hotly. Pamola’s in vrouble.

The beaver scurried off across the leafy ground.

Stay low, said Charlie to Oliver. I don’t see the robots. That doesn’t mean they can’t see us.

The jackrabbit and wolf crouched low following the beaver. After traveling a short distance, Oliver forgot about the robots, he was terrified something had happened to his best friend. He sprang ahead in the general direction. The wolf kept pace, both leaving the beaver ambling behind. They hurried through the woods coming upon a huge oak tree set apart from the other trees. The doe was leaping in a desperate attempt to reach a high branch. The jackrabbit and wolf barreled up to the doe.

Out of breath from her strenuous efforts, Miss Maffit turned to them. Thank heaven you’re here, she said. Pamela is caught in a spider’s web, and I can’t reach her.

Suspended between two branches was the largest spider web Oliver had ever seen. Caught in the web, a miniature Pamela struggled to get free.

A blast must have blown her off Dennis, said Miss Maffit.

The doe started jumping again, trying to reach the branch.

Let me try, said Oliver.

Oliver leaped high but fell short. He leaped again, higher this time, and with a closer view of the spider web from beneath it. A tarantula-size spider crawled out of a knot in the tree and onto the web. Pamela screamed wildly as the eight-legged monster neared.

Oliver dropped to the ground and leaped again with all the strength he had but he still couldn’t reach the branch. He landed hard on the ground. I can’t jump that high, he cried. With his keen rabbit ears, he could still hear Pamela screaming. In desperation, Oliver leaped again, falling short.

We have to help her, cried Miss Pennyfeather, scurrying up to them. She leaped but she was so roly-poly she couldn’t get high off the ground.

Charlie took action and transformed into human form. He aimed his wand to zap the spider. At that moment, a red blast shot past Charlie, just missing him. He whipped around shooting off the blast intended for the spider at a robot coming fast toward them. Charlie’s blast missed the robot and hit a tree, breaking off a huge branch that fell and blocked the robot’s path. The robot blasted the branch, disintegrating it. Charlie turned back to the tree. He had to take careful aim not to hit Pamela. He couldn’t see Pamela clearly. The spider was too close to her to risk a shot. The spider snapped its powerful pinchers ready to grab her. The robot was powering up to fire. The blast would kill them all. Charlie spun around and fired at the robot. The robot deflected the hit with a glowing green shield surrounding its body. The shield